Teaching for Effective Learning
‘Various different activities are included in the lessons which incorporate different learning styles and mixed abilities in activities’ – Jenny Roberts, Mooroolbark College 2012.
I believe students learn best when they are engaged, interested and stimulated, particularly when students individually percieve tasks as challenging yet achievable based on their own ability. I always ensure that I incorporate a range of activities, resources and ICT and aim to mix up how I deliver content when introducing topics to connect with students.
To teach for effective learning, I always accomodate the following aspects within my teaching practices to ensure all individuals have the opportunity to learn:
Multiple Intelligences
A pedagogy I have embedded within my teaching has been enhanced by the research of Howard Gardner and his theory of Multiple Intelligences(Smith 2008). I am confident with this style and engage learners by incorporating a variety of approaches and resources within lessons that appeal to students and cater for different learning strengths.
Catering for Diversity
I always ensure that I have a detailed knowledge of the diversity within my classroom and aim to differentiate curriculum approaches to enable students of all abilities to reach their potential and achieve individual learning goals.
ICT
I regard ICT as an important resource to enage and connect with students in our technology savvy world. I value the 3D model of l(IT)eracy which is based on thinking about literacy-technology learning and pedagogy in young peoples everyday and school lives (Nixon & Kerin n.d).
VIT-Professional Knowledge 1; Teachers know how students learn and how to teach them effectively
1.1- Have a sound knowledge of current learning theories and of pedagogical models from which they draw their practice.
VIT-Professional Knowledge 2; Teachers know the content they teach
2.3- Know the pedagogical approaches, resources and technologies used to support and assess student learning within their content areas.
Reflection
The teacher is the facilitator of a safe and supportive environment that supports student’s academic, social and personal wellbeing as this is the cornerstone to facilitating a positive learning environment. As a teacher, I will decide on methods based on pedagogies to deliver content and sometimes these activities will not suit a student, a group of students or even a class. I have learnt to be flexible, less rigid and accept that sometimes things do not and will not go according to plan. If students do not learn the way we teach them and are not performing through a selected medium, alternative assessment options must be accessible to allow students to showcase their learning, promoting inclusive practices. Utilising ICT must be embedded throughout teaching as a purposeful resource. It is essential that ICT is followed up with tasks that establish higher order thinking or inquiry; otherwise incorporating ICT is meaningless at supporting learning.
The following pages address:
SC2-
Demonstrate an understanding of how students learn and effective teaching
strategies and the capacity to work with colleagues to continually improve
teaching and learning.
SC2-
Demonstrate an understanding of how students learn and effective teaching
strategies and the capacity to work with colleagues to continually improve
teaching and learning.